This document summarizes a Horizon 2020 funding opportunity for startups and innovative SMEs. There are two scopes: 1) Supporting high-tech startups to grow internationally through networking and financing. This has a budget of €10M. 2) Increasing innovation through commercializing research and supporting innovators, with a budget of €2M. Proposals should address themes like connecting startup hubs, facilitating financing, and providing support services. The goal is to help startups scale up and researchers bring innovations to market.

1. ICT-32-2017
Startup Europe for Growth
and Innovation radar
Total budget: € 12 M
Opening: 8 December 2016
Deadline for submissions: 25 April 2017
Contact: cnect-F3-calls@ec.europa.eu

2. Scopes:
1- Startups Grow International
Support high-tech startups and
innovative SMEs to grow and scale-
up cross border and internationally
2 - Increase Innovation
Support the translation of research
results with high innovation
potential into viable products and
services
ICT-32-2017

3. Call ICT-32-2017
At a glance
Scope 1
Innovation Action – €10M
based on Startup Europe activities
Theme 1
Networks
Theme 2
Financing
Scope 2
Coordination & Support Action – €2M
based on Innovation Radar initiative
Theme 1
Support Services
Theme 2
Networks
ICT-32-2017

4. Scope 1 - Startups Grow International:
Innovation Actions (IA) €10M
Based on Startup Europe, proposals should cover one or both of the
themes:
 Theme 1 networks: Reinforcing the ICT ecosystem for
high growth tech startups
 Theme 2 financing: facilitating financing for growth
• Minimum one proposal/theme will be selected
• EU contribution/proposal – approx. €1,5M
• EU funding rate – 70% (except non-profit,
which are still funded 100%)
ICT-32-2017 ... scope 1

5.  Theme 1 networks: Reinforcing the ICT ecosystem for high
growth tech startups (IA)
Reinforcing ICT ecosystems for high growth tech startups by interconnecting and
creating new synergies between 3-4 different Startup hubs across Europe per
project.
Activities should focus on scaling-up of companies by connecting, across different
entrepreneurial ecosystems, key relevant stakeholders such as tech
entrepreneurs, mentors, corporates, customers, designers, media, investors and
local authorities.
Examples of actions:
• Strategic partnerships
• Help startups find skilled employees
• Access the right mix of finances
• Access to procurement opportunities
• Support on how to grow cross border
ICT-32-2017 ... scope 1

6.  Theme 2 financing: facilitating financing for growth
Facilitating financing and improving the liquidity for European investments in fast
growing ICT startups and scaleups, increasing their chances for a successful exit
Examples of actions:
• Preparing companies for investment
• Support networking and investment for corporates
• Help investors to improve knowledge on opportunities (e.g. promising scale
ups) for investing in digital sector
• Stimulate financing through European stock markets
• Enlarge the pool of investors and analysts with deeper understanding of
market trends and business models in digital sector
ICT-32-2017 ... scope 1

7. • NETWORKING: Connect tech startup hubs to larger European ecosystem
seeking synergies with existing players and actions.
• MARKETS: Increased access to customers, (of) new products or services on
the market resulting ultimately in increased turnover.
• SKILLS: Better access to qualified employees and prospects for scaling up
across borders. New job creation.
• MONEY: Stimulate investments in digital sector by improving the mutual
understanding between the investors and tech startups & scaleups
• SUSTAINABILITY: Demonstrate sustainability of proposed actions beyond
the life of the project
• SYNERGIES: Create synergies with ESIF funds or ESIF supported actions as
other EC actions (e.g. Juncker plan or other H2020 projects).
ICT-32-2017
Impact for Innovation Actions
... scope 1

8. STARTUP EUROPE ACTIVITIES
CONNECTING STARTUP ECOSYSTEMS THROUGHOUT EUROPE
5 H2020 projects connecting 16 local
ecosystems to help startups:
 Find skilled employees wherever they are in
the EU
 Access the right combination of finance
throughout EU
 Grow across borders
 Access infrastructure
... scope 1 to build on:ICT-32-2017
All relevant information is available
on Startup Europe Club
http://startupeuropeclub.eu/

9. STARTUP EUROPE ACTIVITIES
Existing actions - Useful links
... scope 1 to build on:ICT-32-2017
ACE - http://europeanace.eu
ATALANTA – www.atalantaproject.eu
GET - www.get-ehealth.eu
EIG - www.eig-project.eu
ICT2B - https://www.ict2b.net/servlet/is/101/
FACE - http://www.face-entrepreneurship.eu/
iLinc - https://www.ilincnetwork.eu/
EDFx - http://www.europeandigitalforum.eu/
CREA - http://www.creasummeracademy.eu/
STARTIFY7 - http://www.startify7.com/
EU-XCEL - http://euxcel.eu/
SEP – http://startupeuropepartnership.eu/
WeHubs - http://wehubs.eu/
Life - http://failingforward.eu/
My-Way - http://www.mywaystartup.eu/
Welcome - http://www.welcome-se.eu
Startup-Scaleup - http://startup-scaleup.eu/
Twist - http://www.digitaltwisters.com/
ePlus Ecosystem - http://www.epluseurope.eu/
Digistart - http://digistart.unidemi.com/

10. Scope 2 - Increase Innovation:
Coordination & Support Action (CSA) €2M
Based on Innovation Radar, proposals should cover:
 Theme 1 Support Services: Support services for EU
funded innovators
 Theme 2 Networks: European wide network of support
centers
• Actions primarily targeted towards technologies developed in EU funded
projects
• Minimum one proposal per theme will be selected
• EU contribution/proposal – approx. €1M
• EU funding rate – 100%
ICT-32-2017 ... scope 2

11.  Theme 1 Support Services: Support services for EU funded
innovators to prepare for market introduction or technology
transfer
To build support services for EU funded innovators: “Innovation Radar”
initiative
Actions primarily targeted towards technologies developed in EU funded
projects in order to turn their research results into marketable products and,
preparing such innovators for success in the market place.
Examples of actions:
• Support for market introduction or technology transfer
• Provide recognition to best-in-class ICT innovators and innovations via e.g.
recognition prizes, quality labelling
• Facilitating participation in relevant and impactful events
• facilitating meetings with investors, procurers, potential customers or
partners
ICT-32-2017 ... scope 2

12.  Theme 2 Support Services Action: to establish a European
wide network of support centers(nodes) for innovative
reserachers
Actions primarily targeted towards technologies developed in EU funded
projects in order to turn their research results into marketable products and,
preparing such innovators for success in the market place.
Examples of actions:
• Pre-seed workshops for market-oriented researchers
• Practitioner-led customer & user-centred hands-on courses based on state
of the art methodologies such as customer discovery, lean startup,
minimum viable product, business model canvas.
Such courses are to be tailored to researchers, innovators and ICT based
high-tech startups and should include interaction with prospective customers
and users and where relevant taking into account market and regulatory
conditions
ICT-32-2017 ... scope 2

13. • INNOVATION: Increase the number of promising research results into
successful innovations in the market (IR).
• SPIN-OFFS: Increase the number of digital technology based spin-offs and
startups or successfully transferred technology from EU funded projects
• INVESTMENT: Enable a significant number of companies based on ICT
technologies to reach investment maturity and market introduction readiness
• NETWORKS: Enable innovators to be part of relevant EU networks created
by Startup Europe
• SYNERGIES: Where appropriate, seeking synergies with ESIF funds or ESIF
supported actions in order to improve the synergies between H2020 and
ESIF.
Impact for Coordination & Support Action (CSA)
ICT-32-2017 ... scope 2

14. https://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/innovation-
radar
The Innovation Radar
Identifying and supporting high potential innovators in H2020 projects
ICT-32-2017 ... scope 2 to build on:
Objective of the Innovation Radar
 To drastically improve the impact of R&D&I
projects on the growth and competitiveness of
high potential innovators involved in our
programs.
Approach
 - With the help of external experts, identify
high potential innovators (SMEs or other) in
H2020 projects,
 - Do this on basis of transparent & objective
criteria;
 - Stimulate them in getting the best out of the
projects for growing their business (by offering
tailor-made guidance and support)